O premier rossignol qui vient
Dans les lilas, sous ma fenêtre,
Ta voix m'est douce à reconnaître!
Nul accent n'est semblable au tien!
Fidèle aux amoureux liens,
Trille encore, divin petit être!
O premier rossignol qui vient
Dans les lilas, sous ma fenêtre!
Nocturne ou matinal, combien
Ton hymne à l'amour me pénêtre!
Tant d'ardeur fait en moi renaître
L'écho de mes avrils anciens.
O first nightingale which comes
to the lilacs, beneath my window,
your voice is sweet for me to hear again!
No other accent can compare with yours!
Faithful to the bonds of love,
trill on, divine little being!
O first nightingale which comes
to the lilacs, beneath my window,
Whether by night or in the morning, how deeply
your hymn to love penetrates my being!
So much passion renews in me
the echo of my bygone Aprils.
© translated by Christopher Goldsack
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